SZIF recommended EU funding for PM-founded Agrofert despite conflict of interest inquiry

The Czech State Agricultural Intervention Fund (SZIF) in late 2020 recommended two companies in the Agrofert conglomerate founded by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš receive EU subsidies despite Brussels investigating his suspected conflict of interest, iROZHLAS.cz reports.

An audit by the European Commission found that Mr Babiš is in violation of conflict of interest because he remains the main beneficiary of Agrofert despite having placed it in trust funds in February 2017 after a change in Czech law. A Czech translation of the final EC report is due in May.

The opposition Pirate Party has criticized the SZIF steps and sought police action in early January over preliminarily approval for subsidies to the Agrofert’ companies Penam and Lipra Pork.